Another Word For Waiting

The Deal

I woke up to leaves drawing shapes upon the window, the fingers of trees softly brushing over them, before repeating the patterns again. The wind sang through the window, toying with the ends of my hair. Outside, the sky rolled in pastels and mist clung lightly to the ground, too stubborn to let go completely, too lazy to hang on tight. Sleep draped its warm embrace over my eyelids, but my body had already thrown off the drowsy haze, with fingertips twitching gently in protest.

Turning over, I saw someone laying beside me, their hair bleeding inky rivers upon the crisp sheets, contrasting in a beautiful way. Black upon white. My fingertips reached out to thumb the dark strands, reveling in awe at the softness. A feeling of familiar jealousy echoed through, at how he had always had longer hair than I did, and how healthy his was. I was lazily threading my fingers through the thin locks at this point, when the person beside me sang a little tune I was rather familiar with.

"Tell me, yes

That the glow

You once held

Lingers yet

Tell me, yet

That the heart

You keep

Still belongs to me

Tell me,

Did it hurt

When love left

You completely

I'll tell you

Do not fret

We will, yes

Be together yet"

That's when I really woke up, Asa's name dangling off my tongue and my heart clenching when I realized it was only a dream. I faintly registered the last two verses were new to me.

Sitting up in my bed, I noticed that I didn't have tree outside my window.

"Good morning, Asha. I was wondering when you might stir," A scream tore from my throat, and I soon found myself on the wood floor with a painful thump and surrounded by darkness. The blankets lifted from my head, and Dark stood there with what I was going to guess was a look of confusion from behind her mask.

"I didn't mean to startle you. I merely wished to talk to you about whether or not you would help us," She offered a hand, which I took rather quickly. Her fingers were long, slim, and pale. "I made some tea if you would like," The masked Ageless held up a cup full of swirling amber liquid, which looked rather appetizing at the moment.

I accepted her tea, and sat down in the small kitchen, and gestured for Dark to join me, which she did, taking the seat across from me. Again, Asa flashed through my mind.

"Why should I help you?" Dark stared empty at me, and I assumed she was trying to formulate a response

"Because we know where your village is. We can take you to them."

I faintly registered the sound of the tea cup shattering as it hit the floor. "Y-you... You know where they are?" My voice sound much too weak for my liking. Dark nodded easily, and I could tell she was telling the truth.

"Helping us, will help you. But...you will have to leave both Amkhalids forever. I will let you think over it. Request to meet with the Ageless in three days if you decide to help us," she rose, and began to exit from the back door, before disappearing.

My hope had been renewed tenfold. The people of Old Amkhalid were still out there. I had the chance to see Asa again.

A knock on the door disturbed my thoughts, and Hana peered in from outside.

"It's unusual for you not to be outside, Asha," she noted. A hum of agreement was all I gave.

"I want to meet with the Ageless in three days, Hana" Silence answered my request, and Hana looked at me with wide eyes.

"You... WHAT!?"

"I want to meet the Ageless. I figure that I should see if they really are as bad as they seem," Hana sat down at the table, and nodded her head slowly.

"I suppose that can be arranged...but do remember that they are dangerous. They will do anything to be free to smite humanity again,"

. . . . . . . . .  

I found myself laying upon the grass beside Hana, where we had been sitting before the war ended. Everything seemed so confusing, and just when I think I've gotten somewhere, I end up more lost than I was at the start. I hate to think of betraying New Amkhalid just for the chance to see my village again, but I know that I will regret it if I don't.

Asa emerges into my thoughts unbidden, his handsome face smiling softly at me, dark eyes gentle and quiet. He was never one for speaking much, a man of few words one could say. But when he did speak, every word was a piece of treasure to me, and I knew that he meant whatever he had to say.

"A penny for your thoughts?" Hana asked, looking over at me.

"I was just thinking about my old village. I miss them, a lot."

"Don't," I turned to look at her, confusion evident on my face. "If they haven't come back for you after all this time, then they never will. I don't mean to be rude, but Asha, I don't think they loved you the way you love them."